Freight forwarder
Organise the transportation of goods and cargo around the UK and overseas for your customers.
Also known as: traffic office clerk, shipping clerk, import clerk, export clerk
About the job
Salary
Source: LMI for All
Weekly
£560
Average
Monthly
£2,426
Average
Yearly
£29,120
Average
3,400
people are currently employed
Low growth
100 fewer jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
What it's like
You would organise how to move goods and cargo around the UK and overseas. You’d plan the best ways to transport the cargoes by road, rail, air and sea for your customers.
You would work with various carriers – the companies that provide transport services – and work out the time and costs of getting goods from one place to another.
You would:
Arrange routes and schedules
Book cargo space with carriers
Negotiate the rates
Arrange insurance
Calculate weight, volume and cost of goods to be moved
Record details on a computer system
Clear goods through customs and arrange for any duties or taxes to be paid
You’d liaise with your customers to agree contracts, deliver quotations and invoices and give advice about the arrangements that have been made. You’d also do general administrative tasks such as filing.
Hours
Environment
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Transport
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- making decisions
- managing resources
- developing a plan
- sorting
- attention to detail
- working with numbers
- problem solving
- written communication
- verbal communication
- building relationships
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Administration and Information Technology
Business in Practice
There are no set routes into this role but many employers value qualifications in supply, transport and logistics (or business with logistics).
There are only a few logistics, supply and transport centred courses in Scotland.
To enter a Higher National Diploma in Supply Chain Management (SCQF level 8) requires National 4/5 qualifications and two Highers at Grade C or above.
To enter a degree in Transport Management requires a relevant HND.
There are a number of postgraduate courses (SCQF level 11) available such as an MSc in Logistics and supply chain management which would require an undergraduate degree for entry.
To apply to a degree elsewhere in the UK you may require National 5 qualifications, Highers and Advanced Highers.
Relevant work-based qualifications such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Supply Chain Management (SVQ level 2/3) or accredited training from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply or be willing to work towards these qualifications once in a job.
Previous experience in office administration or transport would helpful.
You will also need good computer skills, and the ability to speak a foreign language could be useful if the company operates in Europe or further afield.
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